The Samsung Google Nexus S I9020A is a landmark Android device that arrived in 2011 as the second phone in Google’s Nexus line, co-developed with Samsung. Built around a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED Contour Display, a 1.0 GHz Hummingbird processor, and Android 2.3 Gingerbread out of the box, it was designed to showcase a pure, unskinned Google experience to developers and enthusiasts alike.
The I9020A is the AT&T-friendly variant of the Nexus S, tuned for HSDPA 850/1900/2100 bands in North America. Today it stands as a collector’s piece and a reference point for early NFC adoption rather than a daily driver, with a launch-era price of around 270 EUR. This guide breaks down what made it special and where it fits for buyers in 2026.
Full Specifications
Network
| Technology |
GSM / HSPA |
| 2G bands |
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands |
HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 – i9020A for AT&T |
|
HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 – i9020T for T-Mobile |
| Speed |
HSPA 7.2/5.76 Mbps |
Launch
| Announced |
2011, March. Released 2011, April |
| Status |
Discontinued |
Body
| Dimensions |
123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm (4.88 x 2.48 x 0.43 in) |
| Weight |
129 g (4.55 oz) |
| SIM |
Mini-SIM |
Display
| Type |
Super AMOLED |
| Size |
4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~58.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Resolution |
480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density) |
| Protection |
Oleophobic coating |
Platform
| OS |
Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) |
| Chipset |
Hummingbird |
| CPU |
1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 |
| GPU |
PowerVR SGX540 |
Memory
| Card slot |
No |
| Internal |
16GB 512MB RAM |
Main Camera
| Single |
5 MP, AF |
| Features |
LED flash |
| Video |
w480p@30fps |
Selfie camera
Sound
| Loudspeaker |
Yes |
| 3.5mm jack |
Yes |
Comms
| WLAN |
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, hotspot |
| Bluetooth |
2.1, A2DP, EDR |
| Positioning |
GPS, A-GPS |
| NFC |
Yes |
| USB |
microUSB 2.0 |
Features
| Sensors |
Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Browser |
HTML, Adobe Flash |
|
MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player Organizer Photo/video editor Voice memo/dial/commands Predictive text input Near Field Communications |
Battery
| Type |
Removable Li-Ion 1500 mAh battery |
| Stand-by |
Up to 713 h (2G) / Up to 428 h (3G) |
| Talk time |
Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 7 h (3G) |
Misc
| Colors |
White, Black |
| SAR |
0.57 W/kg (head) 1.33 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU |
0.37 W/kg (head) |
| Price |
About 270 EUR |
Price and Availability
The Samsung Google Nexus S I9020A offers a compelling combination of features and performance. While the base price is around €270, the actual cost may vary depending on your location and retailer. Below, you’ll find the approximate price of the Samsung Google Nexus S I9020A converted into various currencies. Please note that these are estimates based on recent exchange rates as of June 19, 2026 and may not reflect the exact price you’ll find at a retailer.
- United States: $310
- Japan: ¥49,903
- United Kingdom: £234
- Australia: A$441
- Canada: C$437
- Taiwan: NT$9,793
- Denmark: kr2.015
- Saudi Arabia: ﷼1,161
- South Korea: ₩476,124
- Germany: €270
- Brazil: R$1.595
- Vietnam: ₫8.138.380
- Kenya: KSh 40,230
- India: ₹29,196
- Indonesia: Rp 5.489.894
- Nigeria: ₦419,754
- Pakistan: ₨86,183
- Philippines: ₱18,760
- Bangladesh: ৳৩৮,০৩২
Why the Nexus S I9020A Still Matters
As a Google Nexus device, the I9020A was guaranteed timely, unmodified Android updates straight from Google, a rarity in 2011. It was the launch vehicle for Android 2.3 Gingerbread and one of the very first phones to ship with built-in Near Field Communication (NFC), laying the groundwork for the contactless payments and tap-to-share features that are standard today. For collectors and Android historians, that pedigree is its core value.
Design and Build
The Nexus S is compact by modern standards at 123.9 x 63 x 10.9 mm and just 129 g, making it pocket-friendly and easy to use one-handed. Its signature feature is the gently curved “Contour Display,” which Samsung shaped to follow the face during calls. The polycarbonate body keeps weight down and houses a removable Li-Ion battery and a Mini-SIM slot, available in classic White and Black finishes.
Display Quality
The 4.0-inch Super AMOLED panel was a highlight of its era, delivering deep blacks, punchy colors, and strong contrast. At 480 x 800 pixels and roughly 233 ppi, sharpness is modest compared to current phones, and the ~58.3% screen-to-body ratio reflects the thick bezels of the period. An oleophobic coating helps resist fingerprints, and AMOLED viewing angles remain pleasant for casual media.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Nexus S runs a single-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A8 CPU on Samsung’s Hummingbird chipset, paired with a PowerVR SGX540 GPU and 512MB of RAM. That hardware handled Gingerbread smoothly in its day, with fluid menus and capable 2D/3D gaming for the time. Being a Nexus, it received early Android updates, eventually reaching later Gingerbread and Ice Cream Sandwich builds, though by today’s standards it cannot run modern apps.
Camera Capabilities
Imaging centers on a 5 MP rear camera with autofocus and an LED flash, recording video at WVGA (480p) at 30fps. A VGA front camera handles basic video calls, notable because Android 2.3 added native front-facing camera support. Output is firmly entry-level by current measures, but it captured solid daylight shots for a 2011 flagship and suited social sharing at the resolutions of the time.
Battery and Endurance
A removable 1500 mAh Li-Ion battery powers the device, rated for up to 14 hours of talk time on 2G and up to 7 hours on 3G, with stand-by reaching up to 713 hours on 2G. The removable design was a practical advantage, letting owners swap in a spare for all-day use, a convenience largely gone from modern sealed phones.
Connectivity and Features
The I9020A covers GSM and HSPA with HSDPA 850/1900/2100 for AT&T, alongside Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot and DLNA, Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR, GPS with A-GPS, and microUSB 2.0. NFC headlines the feature set, while a generous sensor suite, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, and barometer, was unusually complete for 2011. A 3.5mm headphone jack and loudspeaker round out the basics.
Who Should Consider It Today
This phone is best suited to Android collectors, retro-tech enthusiasts, and developers interested in the origins of the Nexus program and early NFC. It is not a sensible primary phone in 2026 due to its dated software and single-core performance, but as a piece of mobile history, the I9020A remains a meaningful and affordable acquisition.
Conclusion
The Samsung Google Nexus S I9020A earns its place as a pioneering Nexus device, the first to pair Android 2.3 Gingerbread with NFC and a curved Super AMOLED display, all backed by Google’s pure-Android update promise. While its single-core Hummingbird chip, 512MB of RAM, and 5 MP camera are firmly entry-level today, its compact build and removable battery still charm enthusiasts. Recommendation: buy it as a collectible or developer curiosity, not as a modern daily driver, and verify network-band compatibility before purchase.
References
- Official Google Blog: Introducing Nexus S with Gingerbread – First-party launch source from Google confirming Nexus S, Samsung co-development, Android 2.3, 4-inch Contour Display, 1GHz Hummingbird processor, cameras, 16GB storage, and NFC hardware.
- Android Open Source Project: Codenames, Tags, and Build Numbers – Official Android documentation for Nexus S device codename and supported Android build history, useful for verifying OS/version claims.
- Android Developers Blog: Android 2.3 Platform and Updated SDK Tools – Official Google source for Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform features such as NFC, front-facing camera support, SIP/VoIP, gyroscope support, and multimedia capabilities.
- FCC Equipment Authorization System (fcc.gov) – Primary regulatory source for Samsung/Nexus S wireless approvals, radio bands, SAR reports, and device certification details; use FCC/model searches to verify radio and safety specifications.
- GSMArena: Samsung Google Nexus S – Established mobile-specification reference for cross-checking the full spec table, including GT-I9020A network-band variant details, dimensions, display, camera, chipset, memory, and battery.
